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Eye care industry supports World Sight Day
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Now in its 10th year, the World Sight Day Challenge brings North American optometric companies, networks, schools and practices together in support of the fundraiser that runs from September through October.
The challenge encourages the vision care community to make a donation or participate in a fundraising event to help fund sustainable eye health projects for people who are needlessly blind or vision impaired, according to a press release from Optometry Giving Sight.
This year has a specific focus on the need for effective, sustainable eye health initiatives for children and adolescents as part of the Our Children’s Vision campaign.
Coalition members include ABB Optical Group, Alcon Foundation, AllAboutVision.com, Bausch + Lomb, CooperVision, Essilor, EyePromise, FYidoctors, Vision Source, VOSH International and VSP Global. Here is a sampling of the activities and events planned:
SLACK Inc. and the Wyanoke Group, publishers of Primary Care Optometry News and www.Healio.com, have been holding regular fundraising events since the end of August, including Rita’s Water “Eyece” Day, waffle breakfast, soup lunch, bake sale, spirit week, eyeball candy jar guess and raffle.
ABB Optical Group announced it is raising funds in support of World Sight Day by donating 1% of its digital eye lab sales to OGS during September and through Oct. 13, which is World Sight Day, according to a press release.
Alcon Foundation is running its Cycle for Sight 20/20 Challenge, with the goal of making a $25,000 donation. Site in Australia, Singapore, U.K. and U.S. are taking part.
CooperVision recently announced it has renewed its commitment as a Global Gold Sponsor for 3 years, effective January 2017. The company also supports a number of specific programs in partnership with OGS, they said in a press release.
Through its “Love to See Change” campaign, Essilor Group is calling on people worldwide to commit to have their eyes checked. For each pledge taken, the company will donate $1 to a selection of initiatives that are bringing good vision to underprivileged or underserved populations around the world in an effort to raise awareness of the importance of regular eye exams, according to a press release from Essilor.
Eyepromise will support multiple activities throughout the fundraising season including employee initiatives and product promotions. They will also make a donation on behalf of the Arizona Fall League’s 2016 batting champion.
Vision Source is encouraging member support center colleagues, administrators, Vision Source representatives and members to take the challenge, with part of the proceeds benefiting the establishment of a school of optometry in Haiti.
World Sight Day takes place annually on the second Thursday of October to focus global attention on blindness and vision impairment and is supported by eye health organizations worldwide, including OGS, and is included on the official World Health Organization calendar.
Our Children’s Vision is an initiative of the Brien Holden Vision Institute and Vision for Life – Essilor, supported by Revo, OGS, World Council of Optometry and the International Council of Ophthalmology, which aims for every child everywhere to have access to eye care, according to the OGS press release.